Multiple Myemolma

Josh Meiste
8th Hr

What is Multiple Myeloma?

– cancer of the plasma cells

Plasma cells
– transported by the blood plasma
– formed in the bone marrow
– produces and secretes (produced and discharged) antibodies
– can mutate to give rise to cancer
– a type of white blood cells/ cells in your immune system

Treatments for Multiple Myeloma

- chemotherapy
– Chemotherapy is given until the abnormal antibody-like protein produced by myeloma cells
decreases and reaches a plateau. A complete remission—a total loss of the abnormal protein or
total destruction, at least for a time, of the cells that make up myeloma—is rare.
– radiation therapy
– Radiation therapy injures or destroys cells in the area being treated (the “target tissue”) by
damaging their genetic material, making it impossible for these cells to continue to grow and
divide.
– bone marrow transplants
- A bone marrow transplant is when special cells (called stem cells) that are normally found in the
bone marrow are taken out, filtered, and given back either to the same person or to another person.
– stem cell transplants
– The first step in the process of stem cell transplantation is the collection of stem cells from a patient
or a donor. When a patient's own stem cells are used, they are frozen and stored until needed. The
patient then receives high-dose chemotherapy and the stem cells are infused into the patient's
bloodstream. The stem cells travel to the bone marrow and begin to produce new blood cells,
replacing the normal cells lost during chemotherapy.

Symptoms
- Bone pain, often in the back or ribs.
- Bones that break easily.
- Fever for no known reason or frequent infections.
- Easy bruising or bleeding.
- Trouble breathing.
- Weakness of the arms or legs.
– Feeling very tired.

Is I completely based on genetics?

– YES, As of right now scientists cannot think of/find any other reason for having
Multiple myeloma besides genetics.
 If we can change genes that cause disease, should genes like
this be changed?
- Both a yes or no answer would be acceptable. A yes because then there would be no more
disease and sickeness. But no because then we would eventually end up with the perfect people.
Everybody would end up being the same.